Brighton High students use field trip ideas for school restaurant remodeling plans
Jul 25, 2017 10:09AM ● By Julie Slama
As a final project for Brighton High interior design students, The View at Brighton will undergo a remodeling. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
By Julie Slama | [email protected]
Right before the end of the term, 11 Brighton High interior design students toured model homes as well as furniture stores to see fashion trends and learn from professionals in the field.
“They saw examples of the element of design or color schemes they learned about in class as well as had the opportunity to ask people in the field about why interior design is important and what it takes to do this job,” said Brighton High family and consumer science teacher Sierra West. “They were able to identify the balance and rhythm in the rooms and see the variety that’s offered.”
The Brighton High students, who were accompanied by nine Jordan High students, also took notes, completed workshops and participated in a photo scavenger hunt, identifying what they had learned throughout the trimester, she said.
“I tied it around their final project, which is to gather ideas to redesign the restaurant, called The View, for our culinary arts program. Seeing ideas in person makes all the difference,” she said.
Students got ideas from RC Willey and IKEA on different materials they could use, such as countertops, lighting or rugs, as well as how room designs are created for Daybreak model homes, West said.
The idea for remodeling The View came about when ProStart teacher Hilary Cavanaugh approached West, asking her for ideas on updating it.
From there, they decided that students could use the project to not only compete in Family, Career and Community Leaders of America’s Star Event during competitions, but also use their design to give to the Canyons School District as suggestions.
West divided her class into teams, with each team coming up with its own remodel plans.
“We started by having students ask her questions before they even began measuring. They asked her about herself, her background, what she needs to fit the needs of her students and school, her style choices,” West said.
Then, students looked at floor plans and blueprints to understand the layout of the room. They
took time to photograph and measure each part of the room and decided its special features, she said.
“We talked about style and practicality, about how lighting should match the function of the room, but it still could accent it. We talked about how there usually is an inspiring piece in each room and color is used to support it,” she said.
While on the field trip, students could see how furniture tied into the unity of the room or how the room was symmetrical.
“We saw how different designers would look at a room and see it differently, whether it was more contemporary or traditional. We’d talk about our visions and how they needed to complement the needs of our clients, and the need to be respectful to each other’s tastes,” she said.
Through putting what they learned in class and on the field trip into their final project, West said students better understand the role of the client.
“They had to create a presentation board and give her a presentation of what they proposed by the deadline. They needed to clearly understand the client’s expectations and needs. It’s been like a real-world, client-designer experience that they’re learning while still in school,” she said.
West said that Cavanaugh will pick her favorite design, or elements from several, to give to the district to implement into the classroom.
“We’ll post pictures before and after the remodel is done, so students can see what their peers have been doing,” West said. “This experience has been great and it’s going to make a big difference at the school.”
Right before the end of the term, 11 Brighton High interior design students toured model homes as well as furniture stores to see fashion trends and learn from professionals in the field.
“They saw examples of the element of design or color schemes they learned about in class as well as had the opportunity to ask people in the field about why interior design is important and what it takes to do this job,” said Brighton High family and consumer science teacher Sierra West. “They were able to identify the balance and rhythm in the rooms and see the variety that’s offered.”
The Brighton High students, who were accompanied by nine Jordan High students, also took notes, completed workshops and participated in a photo scavenger hunt, identifying what they had learned throughout the trimester, she said.
“I tied it around their final project, which is to gather ideas to redesign the restaurant, called The View, for our culinary arts program. Seeing ideas in person makes all the difference,” she said.
Students got ideas from RC Willey and IKEA on different materials they could use, such as countertops, lighting or rugs, as well as how room designs are created for Daybreak model homes, West said.
The idea for remodeling The View came about when ProStart teacher Hilary Cavanaugh approached West, asking her for ideas on updating it.
From there, they decided that students could use the project to not only compete in Family, Career and Community Leaders of America’s Star Event during competitions, but also use their design to give to the Canyons School District as suggestions.
West divided her class into teams, with each team coming up with its own remodel plans.
“We started by having students ask her questions before they even began measuring. They asked her about herself, her background, what she needs to fit the needs of her students and school, her style choices,” West said.
Then, students looked at floor plans and blueprints to understand the layout of the room. They
took time to photograph and measure each part of the room and decided its special features, she said.
“We talked about style and practicality, about how lighting should match the function of the room, but it still could accent it. We talked about how there usually is an inspiring piece in each room and color is used to support it,” she said.
While on the field trip, students could see how furniture tied into the unity of the room or how the room was symmetrical.
“We saw how different designers would look at a room and see it differently, whether it was more contemporary or traditional. We’d talk about our visions and how they needed to complement the needs of our clients, and the need to be respectful to each other’s tastes,” she said.
Through putting what they learned in class and on the field trip into their final project, West said students better understand the role of the client.
“They had to create a presentation board and give her a presentation of what they proposed by the deadline. They needed to clearly understand the client’s expectations and needs. It’s been like a real-world, client-designer experience that they’re learning while still in school,” she said.
West said that Cavanaugh will pick her favorite design, or elements from several, to give to the district to implement into the classroom.
“We’ll post pictures before and after the remodel is done, so students can see what their peers have been doing,” West said. “This experience has been great and it’s going to make a big difference at the school.”
